Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

STEPHEN

1. With these words, the short but memorable story of the first Christian martyr closes:
   1. The life story of Stephen is given to us in two chapters of the Bible, as indicated above
   2. That story presents the bitter controversy between Christ and Satan - Rev. 12:7-12
2. The bloody murder of Stephen by the Jews:
   1. Reveals the hatred of Satan against the Son of God and also against Christ's witnesses
   2. It is another affirmation of the testimony of the Son of God when He said: "He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning" - John 8:44

1. Was one of the seven men chosen to look after the poor widows in the congregation
2. The Greek believers complained that their widows were neglected - Acts 6:1-3
3. The Bible gives this noble testimony of Stephen:
   1. He was full of faith - Acts 6:5 - that means that there was no doubt or fear in his heart
   2. He was full of the grace of God - Acts 6:8 R.V. - a gift from God proving itself in graciousness toward his murderers - Acts 6:60
   3. He was full of the power of the Hold Ghost - Acts 6:8 - that meant that he was full of light, his face shining like that of an angel - Acts 6:15
4. He was a Master in the Holy Scriptures:
   1. Study his sermon recorded in Acts 7 - how masterly he cited the Old Testament to connect the Messiah with those inspired words
   2. He handled the word of life so powerfully, that his adversaries were unable to refute his statements - Acts 6:9-10
   3. He did great wonders and miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit - Acts 6:8
   4. He, like John the Baptist, was fearless, exposing the sins of the Pharisees; but that cost him his life - Acts 7:57-60

1. He was a man of God in the fullest sense of the word:
   1. "Full of faith and power" - Acts 6:8
   2. He, therefore, possessed the one prerequisite to do effective witnessing
   3. Said Jesus to the disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." - Acts 1:8
2. He was a devoted student of Bible Prophecy:
   1. This is indicated plainly, in refuting the arguments of the Jews
   2. But particularly in his mastery citation of the history of ancient Israel, beginning with Abraham
   3. Wrote Paul to his spiritual son Timothy: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15
3. Note, also, Stephen's Christ-like attitude toward his murderers:
   1. "Lay not this sin to their charge" - Acts 7:60
   2. This brings to our mind the prayer of the Son of God, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
   3. Stephen's prayer must have been heard in heaven - in the conversion of Saul, who took part in killing Stephen - Acts 7:58; 9:1-11
4. The murder of Stephen:
   1. Marks the closing of the prophetic week allotted to the Jews - Dan. 8:13-14; 9:24
   2. It marked the beginning of taking the message to the Gentiles - Acts 13:42
5. What an inspiration the story of the life of Stephen must ever be to the workers:
   1. A man full of faith and the power of the Holy Ghost
   2. Fearlessly exposing sin at the risk of even life itself